Employee Relations Specialist (Open Competitive)

Salary : $62,705.00 - $69,672.00 Annually

Location : Buffalo, NY

Job Type : Full-Time

Job Number : 60005850

Department : BMHA

Opening Date : 02 / 18 / 2025

Closing Date : 3 / 9 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Eastern

Fee : $15.00

RESIDENCE : Residence is a requirement for all positions. In the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, an applicant shall be deemed a non-resident if he / she cannot show ninety (90) days of continuous and uninterrupted residence in the City of Buffalo prior to filing application.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO MANDATE CONTINUOUS RESIDENCY IN THE CITY DURING YOUR EMPLOYMENT, EXCEPT FOR POSITIONS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPT UNDER STATE LAW.

FEE : WHERE INDICATED, A NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR APPLICATION VIA CHECK, CASH OR MONEY ORDER (If using check for payment, your check must clear to complete processing.)

Check with Civil Service office for fee waiver info.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

Employee Relations Specialist #60005850 (Open Competitive)

Final Filing Date : 03 / 09 / 2025

Exam Date : 04 / 05 / 2025

An incumbent to a position in this class performs difficult and responsible personnel work. This position, which is important in the day-to-day functions of the department, requires good relations with people, accuracy with records and procedures and knowledge of the various provisions of the collective bargaining agreements with employee unions. Work is carried out according to prescribed procedures and detailed instructions, however, incumbents must often exercise considerable independent judgment in completing specific assignments and in dealing with personnel. Immediate supervision is received from a higher ranking official. Supervision may be exercised over clerical employees.

Examples of work (Illustration Only)

• Performs difficult and responsible personnel work in connection with the processing of appointments, terminations and employee status changes as directed and in accordance with all Federal and New York State laws and regulations and Civil Service Rules and Regulations, terms and conditions of labor agreements and / or affirmative action plan;
• Confers with Civil Service relative to personnel matters to insure compliance with Civil Service Law and rules and regulations;
• prepares personnel requisitions for filling vacancies and / or creation of new positions;
• requests certifications from eligible lists and canvasses candidates on said lists;
• may be required to schedule medical examinations and pre employment drug testing with Civil Service;
• prepares the necessary documentation for Civil Service approval;
• Maintains a list of all employees, active and inactive, and their employment status;
• processes reinstatements, terminations and / or leaves of absences;
• determines reinstatements or termination date of fringe benefits;
• Maintains and updates a list of employees who are on probation;
• provides this list to each department or division head;
• monitors and maintains monthly employee appraisal forms;
• Prepares and maintains seniority lists in accordance with provisions of the collective bargaining agreement;
• Recruits candidates for employment in accordance with all Federal and New York State laws and regulations and Civil Service Rules and Regulations, personnel policy, the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement and the affirmative action plan;
• prepares advertisements and job postings to fill positions where no eligible list is in existence;
• coordinates, schedules and conducts interviews for employment with the department;
• prepares nomination letters and forwards to Civil Service for processing;
• Maintains salary schedule of all positions;
• prepares vacancy report based on employment and budgeted positions;
• monitors leaves of absence and processes related correspondence;
• monitors non-permanent employment status and processes related correspondence;
• Monitors Performance Evaluation Program;
• tracks evaluations and performs related follow-up;
• Assists in the preparation of data for contract negotiations and impasse proceedings, grievance arbitration and discipline and discharge proceedings;
• Compiles and prepares data requested for reports for NYS Department of Labor, Equal Opportunity Commission and other governmental agencies as required;
• Maintains personnel files;

Performs related duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

D) An equivalent combination as defined within the limits of A through C

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION - Written Test......................................Relative Weight 100%

EXAMINATION WILL TEST FOR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND / OR ABILITIES IN SUCH AREAS AS :

1.) Advising and interacting with others

2.) Preparing written material

3.) Public personnel administration (PAP)

4.) Recruitment, selection and placement

THE USE OF A CALCULATOR IS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS EXAMINATION

NOTE : The use of a hand-held, battery- or solar- powered calculator is RECOMMENDED for this exam. Devices with typewriter keyboards, spell checkers, personal digital assistants, address books, language translators, dictionaries or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference material. Cell phones and any other electronic devices are also prohibited.

Additional Information

EXPANDED SUBTEST DESCRIPTION :

1.) ADVISING AND INTERACTING WITH OTHERS : These questions test for the ability to interact with other people in order to gather and present information and to provide assistance and advice in a courteous and professional manner. 2.) PREPARING WRITTEN MATERIAL : These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences. 3.) PUBLIC PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION (PAP) : These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices used in applying New York State, federal, and local laws, rules, and policies to situations encountered in planning and executing the personnel functions in a government agency. Questions may cover such areas as recruitment, selection, and placement; position classification; performance evaluation; and employee relations. 4.) RECRUITMENT, SELECTION, AND PLACEMENT : These questions test for knowledge of planning and implementing programs to hire employees for public sector titles and occupational fields. Questions may cover such areas as determining personnel needs; analyzing job content; ordering examinations; recruitment; and interviewing.

Test Guide :

A Guide to Taking the Written Test for this examination is available upon request in Room 1001 City Hall- Civil Service office or go onto the website at :

This written exam is being prepared and rated by the N.Y.S. Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law, and the provisions of the N.Y.S. Civil Service Rules and Regulations dealing with the rating and review of exams apply.

If not attached, expanded subtest descriptions may be obtained from the Civil Service Office, Room 1001 City Hall.)

The eligible list resulting from this exam may be used to fill comparable positions.)

MULTIPLE EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULED FOR THE SAME DAY :

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same day as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date, so they can make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All examinations for positions in State government will be held at a State examination center.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXAMS notify each civil service agency to make arrangements no later than two weeks before test date. You must notify each agency with whom you have filed. For this information, notify the Department of Human Resources, Division of Civil Service, Room 1001 City Hall, Buffalo, New York 14202 or call or come to the office.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION -

In the event of severe weather conditions on the day of the examination, please listen to the following radio / tv stations for postponement or delay in the starting time of the administration of the examination : WBEN 550, WGR 930, WWW 1400, WWKB 1520- AM RADIO; WKSE 98.5, WLKK 102.5, WTSS 107.7-FM RADIO OR WIVB-TV (CH. 4) If no such announcement is made, you must presume that the examination will be administered as scheduled.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR USE OF VETERAN'S CREDITS

If you are currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, you may apply for veteran's credits. These veteran's credits shall be granted on a conditional basis at time of establishment of the eligible list. You will be restricted from certification using these credits until you have received an honorable discharge or release under honorable conditions. Your DD214 must be presented as proof of service during war time, before you can be certified for appointment from the eligible list using these credits.

Special Requirement for Appointment in School Districts and BOCES

Per Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, and by Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, to be employed in a position designated by a school district or BOCES as involving direct contact with students, a clearance for employment from the State Education Department is required.

NOTICE TO EXAM PARTICIPANTS Additional Points Available to Children of Police Officers and Firefighters Killed in the Line of Duty

New Section 85-a, NYS Civil Service Law, effective 9 / 17 / 02)

On September 17, 2002, Governor Pataki signed into law a bill adding a new section 85-a to the Civil Service Law granting additional credit on civil service examinations for children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty. This law is to take effect immediately.

In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established."

Applicants claiming these points must do so in writing (you may enclose in application), indicating the name, title, relationship and place of employment of the deceased parent.

Eligibility for points will be reviewed and applicants may be required to submit additional information to verify the claim.

Additional points available to siblings of Firefighters and Police Officers killed in the line of duty as the result of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attack (Chapter 500, Laws of New York 2003).

For more information, check with the Department of Human Resources, Civil Service Office.

This position is not eligible for benefits.

Salary : $62,705 - $69,672